Timepiece



Sept. 29, 1936.

A. M L. NICOLSON TIMEPIECE Original Filed Feb. 21, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 29, 1936. A. MCL. NICOLSON TIMEPIECE Originl Filed Feb. 21, 1931 E :1. E- E 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A/exanaer M L m0 Nico/s on. I

Patented Sept. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIMEPIECE Alexander McLean Nicolson, New York, N. Y., as-

signor to Communication Patents, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware 6 Claim.

This invention relates to electrical signalling systems, and particularly to horologe systems in which a periodically varying signal is transmitted for producing visual indications.

This is a division of U. S. application Serial Number 517,389, filed February 21, 1931, which resulted in Patent No. 2,020,039, granted Nov. 5, 1935 in which the entire system has been claimed, the present application being directed to the receiving equipment used in such a system.

An object of the invention is to transmit and indicate at a receiving point uniform chronological sequences.

Another object of the invention is to transmit a periodically varying frequency to indicate time as a visual signal.

A further object of the invention is to transmit time signals which are directly receivable by an indicating instrument.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a portable tme-piece which requires no winding or driving mechanism common in instruments of such type.

Hithertofore in the art, time signals have been transmitted for the purpose of maintaining horologe instruments in synchronism or at a uniform rate of travel, and for adjustment of any loss of synchronism or variances in travel. For instance, it is well known in the art how a timepiece may be corrected at periodic intervals for any increase or decrease in speed. The disclosure of such a time correcting system may be found in my co-pending application Serial Number 489,571, filed October 18, 1930 which resulted in Patent No. 2,005,158, granted June 18, 1935.

The present invention contemplates a system which utilizes the signals to actually indicate the particular instant of any period, the motive power or force required to adjust the instrument from instant to instant being obtained directly from a received signal which is transmitted continuously or at rapid intervals, depending upon how accurate a timepiece is desired. In brief, the invention operates as a meter, in that the frequency being received is indicated on the time keeping instruments, the proper frequency being received at the right instant. In one modification, reeds, tuned to a particular frequency or a narrow band of frequencies, are employed whose amplitude of vibration depends upon the strength of the received signal. The reeds are so adjusted that very little energy is required to vibrate them, and consequently no amplifiers or local power source is necessary to produce an indication within a considerable area surrounding a transmitter. Of course,

with the larger receiving instruments in which the indicating reeds have considerable mass and inertia, a local energy source may be controlled by the incoming wave to produce the vibration of the indicating reeds.

Another embodiment of the invention contemplates the use of a set of piezoelectric elements having different dimensions and thereby tuned to a definite range of frequencies to which they will respond. Their response may be indicated by actual vibration of mechanical elements, or by the production of a visual indication in the form of a glow discharge. Both embodiments may operate from the same signals transmitted from the same transmitter simultaneously. Both the reed and crystal type of receiver may be portable and in the form of a pocket or wrist watch, or may be of the stationary type used in homes and of considerable size. The chief advantage of such a timepiece is that no attention of the user is required to maintain it in operation, while the elim ination of gear mechanism eliminates cleaning and oiling. Furthermore, these time pieces have a minimum of operating elements as will be disclosed hereinafter, permitting an extremely rugged and reliable instrument.

The transmitting end of the system may constitute cyclic variable frequency oscillators having their tuning controlled by a master timepiece. By mechanical coupling, the master mechanism continuously tunes the oscillators through a complete cycle of frequencies chosen for transmission. The mechanism controls several oscillating circuits, the tuning of each circuit being accomplished at a different rate such that one condenser is varied through a complete cycle during one hour, while the other condenser takes twelve hours to complete its period of variation. Such a variation is in accordance with the standard measurement of time. With. such a time keeping system, receiving instruments whether carried on the person or used in the home or office, will always indicate the correct time, the time being controlled by an operator at the transmitter and at which point adjustments will be made from time to time as frequently as necessary.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic circuit of a transmitter.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sketch of a receiving system.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a receiving instrument.

Fig. 4 is a modification of the receiving system: and

Fig. 5 is a detail of the modification shown in Fig. 4.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, an oscillator circut 5 is shown with a vacuum tube 3, coupling condenser I, grid inductance 9 and a fixed tuning inductance i0, comprising the primary of an output transformer II. A variable tuning capacity element l3 has its rotor mechanically connected to a master clock mechanism l4. This clock mechanism may be locally controlled in various ways such as by temperature adjustments to obtain accurate time indications therefrom. A similar oscillator circuit l6 Lncludes a vacuum tube l1, coupling capacity l8, grid inductance l8 and fixed tuning inductance 2|, comprising the primary of an output transformer 22. The variable tuning capacity 23 has its rotor connected to the master timing mechanism l4, and the construction of this mechanism is such that the ratio between driving elements is 12 to 1. The rotor, therefore, of the capacity element i 3 is rotated as indicated at one revolution per hour, while the rotor of the capacity element 23 is rotated at one revolution in twelve hours.

The outputs of the two oscillators with their periodic varying frequency is impressed upon a transmitting circuit 25 of any well known type from which it may be broadcast over antenna 26 or transmitted over a wire line 21. The two oscillators generate the same band of frequencies, the difference between the two being that one generates its entire band in one hours time, while the second generates the same band in a twelve hour period. The frequency range generated is, preferably, in the neighbourhood of 600 cycles or multiple thereof, but may be of any desired width within practical limits and may lie within the broadcast frequency spectrum or in a lower frequency range, depending somewhat upon the medium of transmission.

The receiving circuit shown in Fig. 2 employs an antenna 30 or wire line 3| with a receiver 32 of the ordinary amplifier type. It will, of course, be realized that this receiver may include a detector'circuit as well as an amplifier in case a modulator is used at the transmitter for modulating a carrier wave with the low frequency band. Attached to the receiver 32 by conductors 34 is an indicating instrument mounted on a base 36 inscribed with a clock face dial. Around the circumference'of the dial is an equally spaced plurality of reeds 38, an end view thereof being shown in the drawings. The numerals of the dial may be inscribed on the base or raised on supports to the level of the reeds 30. Each reed has a construction diflering from the others and is, therefore, resonant to a definite frequency.

Each reed also has a piece of magnetic material 40 such as soft iron placed thereon which is effected by the currents in a winding 39.

In Fig. 3, the instrument 36 is shown in crosssection. Although in Fig. 2, the energy for vibrating the reeds 33 is obtained from the output of the receiver 32, the winding. of Fig. 3 receives energy directly from an antenna coil 4|. This antenna coil 4| may be employed whenthe instrument is in sumcient proximity to the transmitting station for reed' vibration without the supplementing of local power, local power being necessary only for operation at longer distances or for larger instruments.

In addition to the adjustment of the two oscillators to obtain the same cyclic frequency'bands, they are also adjusted as to amplitude of the generated frequency bands, that is, the one revolution per hour band is generated at a muchgreater amplitude than the slower changing frequency band. In consequence thereof, the reeds receiving the relatively stronger current will vibrate at a greater amplitude and distinguish themselves from the reeds receiving the weaker current, separation between frequencies being obtained by mechanical resonance. In accordance with the generation of these frequencies the reeds receiving the smaller amplitude current correspond to the hour hand of a timepiece, while the stronger signal vibrates the reeds corresponding to the minute hand.

Referring to Fig. 4, a plurality of crystals 45 are shown placed so as to form a closed path. A receiving antenna 48 which may be in any position with respect to the crystals, feeds the crystals through their electrodes 41 as shown in detail in Fig. 5. Each crystal is dimensioned to operate at one or a narrow band of frequencies as the cyclic frequency band is impressed upon the crystals. The indication that the crystal is operating is, preferably, in the form of a light spot or glow discharge on its visible surface. Each individual crystal may be placed in a partially evacuated transparent envelope as shown on page 18 of Q. S. T. for September, 1926, a magazine published by the American Radio Relay League, Inc., at Hartford, Conn., or all of the crystals may be placed in a common annular envelope surrounding them or surrounding the entire apparatus. Furthermore, the envelopes may contain helium, neon or the like. If two spots are produced, the intensity between one or the other in accordance with the strength of the received signals may distinguish them. Similar to the system of Fig; 2,the receiving instrument of Fig. 4 may be supplied from a local receiver with a much stronger signal strength than that obtained from the antenna 46 in case the instrument is used at long distances from the transmitter. That is, receiver 32 is connected by conductors 34 to crystals 45.

Both the reed and crystal type of receivers may be made in various sizes, depending upon the transmitted frequency employed.

The watch type of receiver may be constructed with a simple receiving antenna located therein properly connected to the driving coils and crystals. It is to be understood that where large instruments are to be operated in a fixed location it is a simple matter, as above described, to supply these time pieces with a local source of power ithereby permitting the operation of any sized ype.

The operation of the system is obvious from the above description of the apparatus, but will be briefly reviewed. The oscillators 5 and 6 at the transmitter each produce the same band of frequencies having the same range. The production of these bands, however, is at different rates, the

oscillator 5 generating its band in one hour, while the oscillator It produces the same band in twelve hours. Let us assume for purposes of description that the band has a range of 600 cycles lying between the limits of 5000 and 5600 cycles. We will further assume that the instrument 36 shown at Fig. 2 has on its face a termination of 60 reeds which permits five reeds for each hour, or a reed for each minute as measured by the minute in dicator. Let us further assume that each reed is tuned-ten cycles apart, that is, the reed at the one o'clock position is resonant to a frequency band of 5000 cycles plus or minus five cycles, the reed indicating six minutes after one will then be tunedto a frequency of 5010 cycles plus or minus five cycles, while the reed showing seven minutes will then be tuned to a frequency of 5020 cycles, and so on for the remainder of the sixty reeds. To provide the proper timing of the frequency of the reeds, the clock I4 varies the frequency of the oscillator 5 at the rate of ten cycles per minute or 600 per hour, while the frequency of the oscillator 18 is varied at the rate of cycles per hour. Furthermore, the oscillator 5 has a larger output amplitude than the oscillator l6, causing the reed which varies at the rate of ten cycles per minute to have a larger swing and is, therefore, the minute hand. The slower changing frequency from the oscillator Ii operates the reeds at a smaller amplitude at the rate of 50 cycles per hour, and consequently constitutes the hour hand. The same relationship controls the glow discharge of the crystals 45 in the system shown in Fig. 4. By starting the oscillators at the same instant to produce the lowest frequency in their bands, and this starting point occurring at one o'clock in accordance with the above assumptions, then the proper relationship will be maintained thereafter to operate the indicating instrument as an accurate timepiece. The above frequency values are given here for the purpose of illustrating the operation of the system, it being understood that a frequency range of cycles or any multiple thereof may be used to provide similar results.

Although the invention has been described in connection with horologe instruments, it is applicable to other uses in which a visual indication is required of certain events in a chronological order, such as stock reports etc., the full scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is: I

1. In a horologe instrument, the combination of a fixed base, a plurality of vibratory elements mounted on said base, an antenna mounted on said base, time indicia on said base, and means adjacent said elements for absorbing and impressing on all of said elements simultaneously a plurality of vibrations received by said antenna each of which varies in a definite ratio, said elements vibrating at diiferent amplitudes to distinguish the different vibrations.

2. In a timepiece, a base, the combination of an antenna mounted on said base, a plurality of vibratile elements mounted on said base, means for actuating said elements with currents of a plurality of frequencies induced in said antenna, said elements distinguishing said currents by amplitude vibration, said actuating means transmitting energy from said antenna to all of said elements simultaneously for actuating said elements in accordance with the movement of the hands of a clock, and time indicia associated with said elements.

3. In a horologe instrument, the combination of a fixed base, a plurality of vibration responsive elements in a single continuous ring mounted on said base, time indicia positioned adjacent said elements, said elements being arranged to represent minute intervals, and means for absorbing and impressing on all of said elements simultaneously a plurality of energy vibrations varying in frequency at different ratios, said vibrations having various amplitudes for distinguishing between them, certain of said elements being actuated according to minute variations and certain of said elements being actuated according to hour variations, the hour variations being indicated by intermediate positions similarly to the hour hand of a clock.

4. In an indicating instrument, the combination of a base, a plurality of elements mounted on said base, each of said elements being adapted to be influenced by a respective vibration or band of vibrations, means mounted on said base for detecting energy of different frequencies and amplitudes, means for impressing said detected energy on all of said elements simultaneously, all of said elements responding in accordance with the frequency and amplitude of said energy which varies in accordance with hour and minute variations, and indicia associated with said elements.

5. In an indicating instrument, the combination of a plurality of elements arranged consecutively, each element being selective to a particular frequency of vibration, means for intercepting electrical energy having a plurality of series of frequencies, means for imparting vibrations to said elements corresponding to their frequency of vibration, said elements indicating both the series of frequencies and the frequency of each series being impressed thereon, and a base support for mounting all of said elements and said intercepting means.

6. In a horologe instrument, the combination of a base, a plurality of vibratile elements mounted on said base in a continuous ring, clock indicia positioned on said base adjacent said elements, an antenna mounted on said base, and an inductance on said base for transferring energy from said antenna directly to said elements, said .elements being adapted to respond to cyclically varying currents in accordance with the hands of a clock and distinguishing between said hands on an amplitude basis.

ALEXANDER McLEAN NICOLSON. 

